Automakers likely will depend heavily on suppliers to help them accomplish that goal because suppliers provide roughly 70 percent of car and truck parts and components.

That's where USAutoPARTs comes in. The consortium will perform research in a variety of "pre-competitive" areas, such as developing lighter-weight materials, improving engine combustion efficiency, and figuring out ways to heat and cool vehicle interiors without drawing power from the engine.

Participating suppliers may use the research results in developing proprietary products for the marketplace.

Delphi, Visteon Corp., McLaren Performance Technologies in Livonia and the Troy-based Original Equipment Suppliers Association are involved in the effort.

Delphi has donated its leased research lab, including $11 million worth of building improvements and $6 million in equipment.

Brown told me there is room today for 100 researchers in the lab. The first half-dozen or so are likely to be on-site employees of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Oak Ridge is interviewing engineers for the lab.

The U.S. Army's National Automotive Center in Warren also is involved.

Participating suppliers will loan other researchers to the lab initially.

USAutoPARTs also will provide a place for colleges and universities to educate students in automotive technologies. Wayne State University professors will teach evening classes there.

"We want to help establish new competencies in this state and put Michigan at the leading edge of technology," Brown said.